System and method of providing informed delivery items using a hybrid-digital mailbox

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods of creating, managing, and distributing supplemental content associated with items in a distribution network. A physical delivery item can be imaged and associated with additional content generated or associated with the sender of the physical delivery item.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. Thisapplication claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisionalapplications No. 62/467,679 and 62/508,931, filed Mar. 6, 2017 and May19, 2017 respectively, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Recent advancements in the field of digital communications have resultedin a wide variety of alternative paths by which a user can receiveinformation. In particular, advancements in electronic mail services andinstant messaging services have diverted traffic away from traditionalphysical mail channels, as instantaneous communications have permanentlychanged the perceptions and behaviors of users with respect tocommunication. In 2010, broadband Internet penetration reached 80% andwireless web penetration reached 96% penetration. With the Internet'saccessibility at such heights, users are increasingly turning to itsconvenience to manage all aspects of communications, financialtransactions, and commerce.

Because of the increased importance of electronic communications, andbecause physical mail plays an important role, it is desirable toenhance physical mail by providing novel digital features to thephysical mail experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Enabling digital advertising to mail item recipients, as well as otherobjects, may be achieved by systems and methods for creating, managing,and distributing supplement content, in addition to distributingphysical mail items, according to embodiments of the disclosure asdescribed herein.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings showing exampleembodiments of this disclosure in the drawings.

FIG. 1A depicts a diagram of various inputs available for generating acustomer preference database.

FIG. 1B shows, in block diagram form, an example system for managingsupplemental content.

FIG. 2A is a flow diagram depicting a process for managing supplementalcontent in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a data flow diagram of step 205 from FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a data flow diagram of step 260 from FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates conceptual layers of data flow of an exampleembodiment of the CPDB module.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of block diagram and data flows for asupplemental content system.

SUMMARY

In one aspect described herein, a system for handling distribution itemscomprises item processing equipment comprising an imaging device, theimaging device configured to image a physical distribution item andinterpret an identifier on the physical distribution item, and togenerate scan information which includes the identifier; an item imageserver configured to store the image of the physical distribution itemand to associate the identifier with the stored image; a supplementalitem content interface in communication with a supplemental item contentserver, the supplemental item content server configured to receivesupplemental item content and to associate the supplemental item contentwith the identifier; and a central hub in communication with the mailimage server and the supplemental item content server, the central hubconfigured to track delivery data for the physical distribution itemhaving the identifier thereon; provide to the recipient of the physicaldistribution item the delivery notification including the stored imageof the physical distribution item; provide, to the recipient, thesupplemental item content with the delivery notification; and receive,from the recipient, interaction information regarding the recipient'sinteraction with the supplemental item content and store the interactioninformation.

In some embodiments, the supplemental item content is embedded in theprovided image of the physical distribution item.

In some embodiments, the delivery notification and the supplemental itemcontent are provided via a recipient interface.

In some embodiments, the recipient interface is configured to provide anoption to accept or reject the physical distribution item.

In some embodiments, the supplemental item content comprises a linkprovided by a generator of the supplemental item content.

In some embodiments, the supplemental item content interface isconfigured to receive the interaction information and to provide theinteraction information to a generator of the supplemental item content.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a customer preferencedatabase, the customer preference database storing preference data for aplurality of customers.

In some embodiments, the supplemental item content interface isconfigured to receive a request for a distribution list of recipientsand a list of preference parameters.

In some embodiments, the customer preference database is configured togenerate a list distribution list of a plurality recipients based on thepreference parameters, and to generate a unique identifier for each ofthe plurality of recipients.

In some embodiments, the central processor is configured to track thedelivery data for the physical distribution item based on the scaninformation from the mail processing equipment, and to provide thesupplemental item content when the identifier in the scan information isassociated with supplemental item content in the supplemental itemcontent server.

In another aspect described herein, a method for handling distributionitems comprises imaging, in mail processing equipment a physicaldistribution item; interpreting an identifier on the physicaldistribution item; generating image information which includes theidentifier; storing the image of the physical distribution item;associating the identifier with the stored image; receiving, via asupplemental content interface, supplemental item content; associatingthe supplemental item content with the identifier; tracking deliverydata for the physical distribution item having the identifier thereon;providing, to a recipient of the physical distribution item, a deliverynotification including the stored image of the physical distributionitem; providing, to the recipient, the supplemental item content withthe delivery notification; and receiving, from the recipient,interaction information regarding the recipient's interaction with thesupplemental item content.

In some embodiments, the supplemental item content is embedded in theprovided image of the physical distribution item.

In some embodiments, providing the delivery notification and thesupplemental item content comprise providing the delivery notificationand the supplemental item content via a recipient interface.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing, via therecipient interface, an option to accept or reject the physicaldistribution item.

In some embodiments, the supplemental content comprises a link providedby a mailer

In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing, via thesupplemental item content server, the interaction information to agenerator of the supplemental content.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises storing, in a customerpreference database, customer preference data for a plurality ofcustomers.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, via thesupplemental content interface, a request for a distribution list ofrecipients and a list of preference parameters.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises generating adistribution list including a plurality recipients for the physicaldistribution item based on the received preference parameters.

In another aspect, the present disclosure describes a method forcreating, managing, and distributing supplement content associated withitems in a distribution network may include receiving tracking dataregarding a delivery item. In some embodiments, the method furtherincludes receiving supplemental content and associating the supplementalcontent with a delivery item. The method may also include automaticallyscheduling delivery of the supplemental content after the supplementalcontent is associated with the delivery item. The method mayadditionally include receiving tracking data regarding recipientinteraction with the supplemental content. The method may furtherinclude automatically altering supplemental content based on therecipient interaction data.

In another aspect, an electronic device is provided. The electronicdevice includes a computer readable storage medium that storesinstructions. The electronic device further includes a processor forexecuting the instructions to perform a method. The method may includereceiving tracking data regarding a delivery item. The method furtherincludes receiving supplemental content and associating the supplementalcontent with a delivery item. The method may also include automaticallyscheduling delivery of the supplemental content after the supplementalcontent is associated with the delivery item. The method mayadditionally include receiving tracking data regarding recipientinteraction with the supplemental content. The method may furtherinclude automatically altering supplemental content based on therecipient interaction data.

In another example embodiment, a computer readable storage medium isprovided. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that,when executed by a processor, performs a method. The method may includereceiving tracking data regarding a delivery item. The method furtherincludes receiving supplemental content and associating the supplementalcontent with a delivery item. The method may also include automaticallyscheduling delivery of the supplemental content after the supplementalcontent is associated with the delivery item. The method mayadditionally include receiving tracking data regarding recipientinteraction with the supplemental content. The method may furtherinclude automatically altering supplemental content based on therecipient interaction data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. Thus, in some embodiments, part numbers may be usedfor similar components in multiple figures, or part numbers may varydepending from figure to figure. The illustrative embodiments describedin the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to belimiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may bemade, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and made part of this disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for real-timecreation, management, and distribution of supplemental contentassociated with items in a distribution network such as the UnitedStates Postal Service (USPS). This may include providing real-timetracking capability of each piece of enhanced digital content associatedwith an item in a distribution network.

In order to provide the capabilities described herein, tracking data,including real-time tracking data can be stored. In a distributionnetwork with many items, the storage capability must be large in orderto receive, store, and provide access to the stored tracking data. Insome embodiments, the system includes a central data storage repositoryin communication with a powerful analytical engine with real-timeprocessing capabilities.

A distribution network may comprise multiple levels. For example, adistribution network may comprise regional distribution facilities,hubs, and unit delivery facilities, or any other desired level. Anationwide distribution network, for example, may comprise one or moreregional distribution facilities having a defined coverage area (such asa geographic area), designated to receive items from intake facilitieswithin the defined coverage area, or from other regional distributionfacilities. The regional distribution facility can sort items fordelivery to another regional distribution facility, or to a hub levelfacility within the regional distributional facility's coverage area. Aregional distribution facility can have one or more hub level facilitieswithin its defined coverage area. A hub level facility can be affiliatedwith a few or many unit delivery facilities, and can sort and deliveritems to the unit delivery facilities with which it is associated. Inthe case of the USPS, the unit delivery facility may be associated witha ZIP Code. The unit delivery facility receives items from localsenders, and from hub level facilities or regional distributionfacilities. The unit delivery facility also sorts and stages the itemsintended for delivery to destinations within the unit deliveryfacility's coverage area.

As used herein, the term item may refer to an individual article,object, agglomeration of articles, or container having more than onearticle within, in a distribution system. The item may be a letter,magazine, flat, luggage, package, box, or any other item of inventorywhich is transported or delivered in a distribution system or network.The term item may also refer to a unit or object which is configured tohold one or more individual items, such as a container which holdsmultiple letters, magazines, boxes, etc. The term item may also includeany object, container, storage area, rack, tray, truck, train car,airplane, or other similar device into which items or articles may beinserted and subsequently transported, as are commonly used indistribution systems and networks.

The term item recipient is used to describe embodiments of the presentdevelopment. This term is exemplary only, and the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited to the potential recipient of an item.

The term supplemental content and others terms are used to describeembodiments of the present development. As used herein, supplementalcontent can refer to digital coupons, graphics, videos, emails,webpages, hyperlinks, text messages, instant messages, social mediamessages, text, augmented reality interfaces, and the like. These termsare exemplary only, and the scope of the present disclosure is notlimited thereto.

The term advertising campaign and others terms are used to describeembodiments of the present development. As used herein, an advertisingcampaign can refer to an association of one or more pieces ofsupplemental content with a recipient list, a budget, and a campaignduration. These terms are exemplary only, and the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

As an example illustrating enhanced digital content provided withmailpieces, a health food store manager may want to advertise that theirhealth food store is having a sale on organic produce. In addition tosending out direct advertisement mailers, the health food advertiser canenhance the physical mailpiece with content provided and delivered viathe supplemental content system. The health food store begins bycreating an advertising campaign using an interface associated with thesupplemental content system. The advertising campaign associates adigital advertisement, provided by the health food advertiser, with mailitems scheduled to be delivered to recipients via USPS. The mail itemcan be can be a mailpiece generated by or on behalf of the health foodstore. Once a mail item is inducted into the mail stream, or is scannedat the local delivery unit for delivery, or at another point during themailpiece's transit through the mail distribution network, the item'srecipient will receive an email containing detailed mail item data suchas shipping date, scheduled delivery date, dimensions, senderidentification, and an image of items or mailpieces which are scheduledfor delivery to that recipient for a given time period, such as a day,two days, three days, a week, and the like The images are generallyobtained from the mail processing equipment. Systems for providingdigital information regarding mailpieces can be similar to thosedescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/619,074, filed on Sep.14, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,105,016, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety. The images of the item sent by or on behalfof the health food store can include additional information embeddedwithin or linked to the image of the mail item. In this example, thesupplemental content is a hyperlink to a coupon page on the health foodstore's website. The email may additionally include an interface or alink to an interface where a recipient can interact with the enhanceddigital content, and can, for example, affirmatively accept the mailitem, rejecting the mail item, rescheduling the mail item, changing theshipping address of the mail item, or add or change delivery preferencesor properties.

The supplemental content system also tracks recipient interactions withthe supplemental content. In this example, the USPS gathers, records,stores, and/or communicates to the health food advertiser data each timea mail item recipient clicks on the enhanced digital content hyperlink,and can charge a fee for the service, such as a per click fee. In someembodiments, the USPS can provide the recipient interaction data in avariety of other ways. In some embodiments, the supplemental contentsystem can automatically alter the advertising campaign, such as offers,timing, details, etc., based on the identity of the recipient, thegeographical area in which the recipient is located, and/or therecipient interaction data. For example, if the health food store is anational chain, the supplemental content, or enhanced digital content,may be customized to the local geographic region in which the recipientis located. The USPS may also use gathered information regarding arecipient's purchases, subscriptions, identity of individuals orcompanies that send items to the recipient, and the like to providecustomized supplemental content. In some embodiments, the recipientinformation is not provided to the health food store, but is providedvia the supplemental content system in anonymized or other similarfashion. The health food store may provide one, two, three, or moredifferent versions of supplemental content geared toward various incomelevels, shopping habits, etc., and provide the versions to thesupplemental content system. The USPS can then link to or provide theversion of supplemental content to each recipient of a mailpiece, wherethe supplemental content corresponds to the needs, interests,preferences, etc. of each specific recipient. In some embodiments, thesupplemental content system may determine that supplemental contentrecipients click on a supplemental content hyperlink less often when thehyperlink font color is red. Based on this inference, the supplementalcontent system could then change the hyperlink to another color such asblue. Other advertising campaign changes may include altering thesupplemental content recipient list, altering the supplemental contenttext, altering the supplemental content images, altering the campaignbudget, and the like.

FIG. 1A depicts inputs into a customer preference database (CPDB) 102,which can be used in systems and methods described herein. The CPDB 102can gather and store information regarding preferences and preferenceinformation for users, senders, shippers, recipients, and customers of adistribution network. The CPDB 102 can gather this information passivelyfrom other information sources, can gather preference information basedon an opt-in system, or can proactively request and obtain preferenceinformation from customers, and advantageously recipients of mail items.

The information or records in the CPDB can be based on core records suchas information from customer data 104. The customer data 104 can beobtained from several sources within the distribution network, such asthe USPS. The customer data 104 can include a recipient database 104 a,a product tracking system (PTS) 104 b, and a customer registrationdatabase 104 c. The recipient database 104 a can be a stored list of allthe recipients and addresses of recipients of items delivered by thedistribution network. For example, this can be a list of names andaddresses of people and businesses to which the USPS delivers.

PTS 104 b includes product tracking information, including the types andfrequency of items, such as packages, parcels, flats, magazines, andother items which are delivered to recipients in distribution network.PTS 104 b can store information about which recipients receive whichtypes of items and the frequency thereof.

The customer registration database 104 c includes information, includingpreferences, subscriptions, payments, etc. for all customers, such asrecipients, users, etc., that have been provided to the distributionnetwork across various platforms, such as via a mobile application, viaa website, via a change of address request, or any other interactionwith the distribution network where a recipient provided information.This information can be stored in the customer registration database 104c on an opt-in or opt-out basis.

The information from the customer data 104 can be aggregated andcombined in a ETL hub 106. The ETL hub 106 can take the various recordsfrom the customer data 104 and aggregate the information for storageusing expand, transform, load database techniques, or any other desiredtechniques. The ELT hub 106 can be guided by sets of aggregation ruleswhich direct how the customer data 104 should be aggregated. Theaggregation rules may vary based on the intended application, orcampaign. The ETL hub 106 provides the aggregated customer data to theCPDB 102 for storage. The ETL hub 106 can provide different sets ofaggregated data for use in different applications or campaigns.

The ETL hub 106 can interface with mail processing equipment 108 toinstruct regarding delivery instructions, processing and sortinginstructions, routing instructions and the like. The ETL hub 106 mayreceive the processing instructions from the CPDB 102.

The CPDB 102 core records obtained from the customer data 104 may besupplemented with data from external data sources 109, customer servicedata 110, and social media 111. External data sources 109 may beobtained from a third-party and may be used for one or more campaigns.In some embodiments, customer or user data form the external datasources 109 may expire and may be removed after use. Customer servicedata 110 may be obtained from customers who interact with thedistribution network, such as via a call center, online help, in-persontransactions at distribution facility, such as a post office or retaillocation, and the like. Social media information 111 can be obtainedfrom various social media sources and can supplement the records in theCPDB 102. The social media information 111 can include social mediacomments regarding product preferences, feelings about products andservices, and the like. These preferences can be added to a user'sprofile in the CPDB 102.

An analytics tools engine 112 can access the customer data and profilesin the CPDB 102 and evaluate the data and profiles to determinepotential new product offerings for the distribution network andcustomers of the distribution network. The analytics tools engine 112can also analyze the customer profiles in the CPDB 102 to determinetarget recipients for particular campaigns or supplemental content, aswill be described in greater detail below. The analytics tool engine 112also analyzes historical campaign effectiveness data, an can use thehistorical data to shape future campaigns, and/or can provide the datato an advertiser, shipper, and the like.

The CPDB 102 is in communication with a content interface 125. Thecontent interface 125 can be provided as webtools for a shipper to querya batch of barcodes for sending a physical mail piece to a group ofrecipients for a particular physical distribution item. The contentinterface 125 can query the CPDB 102 for recipients for a particularmailpiece or campaign. The CPDB 102 can use the requirements from thecontent interface 125 and using the analytics tool engine 112 canprepare a list of recipients or potential recipients for the sender oradvertiser. The CPDB 101 may not provide the names and addresses of theidentified recipients, but may provide a batch of barcodes which theshipper or advertiser can place on the physical distribution items. Thebarcodes will be associated with the delivery points of the identifiedrecipients, and the barcodes can be recognized by the mail processingequipment 108. More details regarding the content interface 125 will beprovided elsewhere herein.

A campaign management module 113 extracts data from the CPDB 102 forexecution of specific campaigns. Response data is received from variouscomponents of the distribution network (as will be described in greaterdetail below) during campaign execution. The response data from thecampaigns can be received and stored in the CPDB 102. Customer profilesfor customers who interact with supplemental content and/or makepurchases for a campaign can be updated with the interaction andpurchase data.

FIG. 1B depicts one embodiment of a system 100 for real-time creationand routing of enhanced digital content. A system 100 comprises thecustomer service database or a customer preference database (CPDB)module 110, a distribution network 155, and an content interface 125. Insome embodiments, the system 100 may additionally comprise an itemsender user interface 140, a distribution network user interface 135,and a recipient user interface 115. The CPDB module 110 can be a centralhub for the system 100, and is in communication, either wired orwirelessly, with the item sender user interface 140, the distributionnetwork user interface 135, the content interface 125, and the recipientuser interface 115. In some embodiments, the interfaces described hereinmay be a graphical user interface, a computer, a processor, acombination of the two, or other similar device in communication withthe CPDB module 110. In some embodiments, the item sender user interface140, the distribution network user interface 135, the content interface125, and the recipient user interface 115 may be in communication eitherwired or wirelessly, with the distribution network 155.

The CPDB module 110 may comprise or be a component of a processingsystem implemented with one or more processors. The CPDB module 110 maybe a network of interconnected processors housed in one or moreterminals. The one or more processors may be implemented with anycombination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers,digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite statemachines, or any other suitable entities that may perform calculationsor other manipulations of information. The CPDB module 110 may comprisea processor such as, for example, a microprocessor, such as a Pentium®processor, a ^(Pentium)® Pro processor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS®processor, a Power PC® processor, an Alpha® processor, amicrocontroller, or the like. The processor typically has conventionaladdress lines, conventional data lines, and one or more conventionalcontrol lines. The CPDB module 110 is in communication with a memory,which may include, for example, RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. The memorymay include, for example, software, at least one software module,instructions, steps of an algorithm, or any other information. In someembodiments, the processor performs processes in accordance withinstruction stored in the memory. These processes may include, forexample, controlling features and/or components of the system 100, andcontrolling access to and from the CPDB module 110, and transmittinginformation and data to and from the CPDB module 110 and the constituentcomponents of the system 100, as will be described herein. The CPDBmodule 110 is configured to coordinate and direct the activities of theother components of the system 100.

The CPDB module 110 is often in communication, either wired or wireless,with components of the distribution network 155. The CPDB module 110communicates item data, advertising campaign data, item recipient data,and supplemental content recipient data with the distribution network155. The distribution network 155 may comprise a distribution networkfacility having a processing apparatus, such as mail processingequipment, configured to scan or read unique identifiers located onitems received into the distribution network facility. In someembodiments, the distribution network 155 may be a computer, aprocessor, or other similar device in communication with one or moreprocessing apparatuses at distribution network facilities. Thedistribution network 155 can also include mobile computing devicesconfigured to track resource position and item position, via, forexample, a location detection system (GPS, etc.), and to scan items. Themobile computing devices can provide pick-up, location, and deliverydata to components of the system 100

In the example of the USPS, the CPDB module 110 will ingest data frommultiple sources to meet the ever-evolving analytics needs of USPS asdescribed in the sections below. To meet these needs, CPDB can be ahighly available and scalable system to provide on-demand access tovarious USPS data sources in a reliable and consistent fashion. Some ofthe systems that will feed the CPDB include: Informed Delivery(including MyUSPS), Assumed Change of Address, Informed Delivery ImageDecomposition (IDID), Intelligent Addressing (IA), Product Tracking andReporting (PTR), PostalOne! (PO!), Addressing Products (Delivery PointBarcode Exclusion List, Zone Information, End of Run), Failed FirstAttempt (FFA), and Redelivery. Table 1 below shows some of the datasources that will feed the CPDB:

TABLE 1 System System Description Sample Data Attributes Informed Allowsusers to # Registered Users Delivery (ID) digitally preview # Householdsmail manage #Email Enabled Users packages scheduled Open Rates to arrivesoon. Click-to-Open Rates # Participating Mailers # Mailer CampaignsAssumed Change Analyzes consumers' Address Change Indicator of Addressaddress history to (Rank 1-10) (ACOA) determine whether Address ChangeNotice someone has moved Original ZIP11 and did not report a Change ofAddress Informed Analyzes postage/ By/For Data Delivery Image paymentdata on Full Imb Decomposition mail/packages to (IDID) determine methodof shipping payment Address Maintains current DPBC Exclusion ListManagement data on each ZIP to Area/District System (AMS) delivery pointand Mappings provides that data ZIP to Delivery Points to Postal ServiceMapping facilities and ZIP to Site Mappings customers Address ChangeNotice Address Change Indicator Address Change Type ZIP11 Original ZIP11 Destination Date of move PostalOne! (PO!) Offers a an All IMbs frommail electronic suite of All Delivery Point ZIP11s services designed formail exclusively for By/For Data business mailers Mailing Dates ExpectedIn Home Dates Product Tracking Stores tracking All IMPbs from packages &Reporting scan data for all All Delivery Point ZIP11s (PTR) barcodedpackages for packages and extra services By/For Data products FailedFirst Provides information Delivery Point ZIP11 Attempt (FFA) on misseddelivery IMPb on carrier's Reason for Failed Delivery initial deliveryDate and Time of Delivery attempt Attempt Redelivery Providesinformation Delivery Point ZIP11 on attempts to IMPb redelivery apackage Date and Time of Redelivery after a Failed First Attempt at aZIP11

The CPDB module 110 is configured to generate, receive, send, and trackenhanced digital or supplemental content. This process will be describedin greater detail below.

The content interface 125 is in communication, either wired orwirelessly, with the CPDB module 110 and the distribution network 155.The content interface 125 receives and communicates item data, contentdata, sender information, recipient information, and advertisingcampaign data with the CPDB module 110. The content interface 125 canreceive the above information as from a content provider, such as anadvertiser, shipper, sender, or other entity associated with an item tobe delivered via the distribution network 155. The content data maycomprise supplemental content, supplemental content item association,item association, budget, advertising impression targets, campaignduration, campaign start date, campaign end date, target audiencedemographics, and the like. Item association may comprise dataassociating one or more items with one or more campaigns, supplementalcontent pieces, recipients, recipient lists, and the like. Thesupplemental content may comprise a digital coupon, graphic, video,email, webpage, hyperlink, text message, instant message, social mediamessage, augmented reality display, and the like. Audience demographicsdata may comprise age, height, weight, gender, socioeconomic status,geographic region, education level, credit score, personal interests,spending habits, and the like. User data may comprise user logincredentials, physical addresses such as residential or businessaddresses, contact information such as phone numbers or email addresses,and the like.

The content interface 125 may reside on various platforms or devicessuch as a website, a mobile application, a dedicated terminal, or acomputer. In some embodiments, the content interface 125 may comprise anapplication programming interface (API). The content interface 125 isconfigured to communicate content data and item data to eh CPDB 110 viathe network 120.

The content interface 125 may be generated by the CPDB module 110 or bya third party, developer, user, or another entity desiring to access thesystem 100. In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 allows anadvertiser, a commercial user, a utility, financial institution, etc.user to generate a customized content interface 125, which can be madeavailable to the user's customers via a website or mobile applicationowned or provided by the advertiser user. In this case, the CPDB module110, in conjunction with provided APIs, may provide an advertiser useraccess to data from the CPDB module 110 for use on or in the advertiseruser's own systems. Users of the content interface 125 may compriseadvertising entities and their employees, associates, delegates,computer programs, and the like. The content interface 125 may comprisehtml form fields, data file import fields, and the like.

The distribution network user interface 135 is often in communication,either wired or wirelessly, with the CPDB module 110 and thedistribution network 155. The distribution network user interface 135may receive communicate item data and content data from the CPDB module110, and can communicate the item data and the content data to thedistribution network 155. The item data may comprise shippingnotifications, delivery date estimations, weight, item type, volume,item contents, destination, recipient, item pictures such as external orinternal views of an item, item size, or any other desired informationrelating to the item, and the like. The content data may comprise itemassociation data, recipient data, budget, duration, campaign start date,campaign end date, and the like. Item association data may comprise dataassociating one or more items with one or more campaigns, recipients,recipient lists, and the like. Recipient data may comprise physicaladdresses such as a residence or business address, recipient names,recipient contact data such as a phone number or email address.Recipient data may further comprise recipient delivery preferences suchas delivery location preferences, delivery time preferences, or whetherthe recipient rejected, accepted, or postponed the item delivery, andthe like.

The distribution network user interface 135 may reside on variousplatforms or devices such as a website, a mobile application, adedicated terminal, or a computer. In some embodiments, the distributionnetwork user interface 135 may comprise an API.

The distribution network user interface 135 may be generated by the CPDBmodule 110 or by a third party, developer, user, or another entitydesiring to access the system 100. In some embodiments, the CPDB module110 may allow a distribution network 155 user to generate a customizeduser interface, which can be made available to the distributionnetwork's customers via a website or mobile application owned orprovided by the distribution network user. Users of the distributionnetwork user interface 135 may comprise distribution network employees,associates, delegates, computer programs and the like.

The recipient user interface 115 is in communication, either wired orwireless, with the CPDB module 110 and the distribution network 155. Therecipient user interface 115 may communicate recipient user data, itemdata, and supplemental content data with the CPDB module 110. Recipientuser data may comprise user login credentials, physical addresses suchas residential or business addresses, recipient names, and recipientcontact data such as phone numbers or email addresses, and the like.Recipient user data may additionally comprise recipient deliverypreferences such as desired delivery locations, desired delivery times,whether the recipient rejected, accepted, or postponed the itemdelivery, and the like. Recipient user data may further comprisesupplemental content preferences such as topics of interest,supplemental content delivery preferences, and the like.

The item data may comprise shipping notifications, delivery dateestimations, size, weight, type, volume, dimensions, contents,destination, recipient identification, recipient item preferences, itempictures such external or internal views of an item, or any otherdesired information relating to the item. Supplemental content maycomprise a digital coupon, graphic, video, email, webpage, hyperlink,text message, instant message, social media message, text, and the like.

The recipient user interface 115 may reside on various platforms ordevices such as a website, a mobile application, a dedicated terminal,or a computer. In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 maycomprise an API.

The recipient user interface 115 may be generated by the CPDB module 110or by a third party, developer, user, or another entity desiring toaccess the supplemental content system 100. In some embodiments, theCPDB module 110 may allow a recipient user to generate a customized userinterface. In this case, the CPDB module 110, in conjunction withprovided APIs, can allow a recipient user to access data from the CPDBmodule 110 for use on or in the recipient user's own systems. Users ofthe interface 115 may comprise item recipients, supplemental contentrecipients, and the like. In some embodiments, the user interface 115can be an application or website, and can display mailpiece images andother information, such as in a dashboard format. In some embodiments,the user interface 115 can be an email inbox notification, withclickable images of the items to be delivered, where clicking the imagesprovides access to supplemental content associated with the items beingdelivered.

The item sender user interface 140 is in communication, either wired orwirelessly, with the CPDB module 110 and the distribution network 155.The item sender user interface 140 communicates item data with the CPDBmodule 110. The item data may comprise shipping notifications, deliverydate estimations, item pictures, item dimensions, item weight, itemdelivery address, and the like. Users of the item sender user interface140 may comprise item senders and the like. In some embodiments, theitem sender user interface 140 may be configured to allow an itemsending user to associate physical distribution items with supplementalcontent provided via the content interface 125. In some embodiments, theitem sender user interface 140 and the content interface 125 cancomprise a single interface. This process will be explained in greaterdetail below.

The item sender user interface 140 may reside on various platforms ordevices such as a website, a mobile application, a dedicated terminal,or a computer. In some embodiments, the item sender user interface 140may comprise an API.

The item sender user interface 140 may be generated by the CPDB module110 or by a third party, developer, user, or another entity desiring toaccess the supplemental content system 100. In some embodiments, theCPDB module 110 may allow an item sending user to generate a customizeduser interface, which can be made available to an item sending user'scustomers via a website or mobile application owned or provided by theitem sending user. In this case, the CPDB module 110, in conjunctionwith provided APIs, can allow an item sending user to access data fromthe CPDB module 110 for use on or in the item sending user's ownsystems.

In some embodiments, the advertising data communicated by the contentinterface 125 with the CPDB module 110 may comprise internet addressthat references the storage location of the advertising data. Forexample, the advertising data may comprise an internet addressreferencing at least one image stored on a content delivery network. Thereferenced images may comprise an external view of the mail item beingsent, such as the front and/or back of a mailpiece, an image of anyportion or all of the parcel, flat, letter, etc., the contents of themail item, or any other image that the advertiser wishes to associatewith the mail item. The advertising data may additionally comprise oneor more internet address referencing supplemental content that isassociated with the mail item. The internet addresses may compriseuniform resource locators, internet protocol addresses, and the like. Inthis case, the CPDB module 110 can access and store the supplementalcontent referenced in the internet address using protocols such as filetransfer protocol, hypertext transfer protocol, secure shell transferprotocol, secure file transfer protocol, and the like.

In some embodiments, the content interface 125 may send the advertisingdata to the CPDB module 110 using a DAT or XML, file format. Forexample, in a postal service the data may be formatted as a mail.dat ormail.xml file.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 can associate supplementalcontent with items sent by a third-party item sender. The supplementalcontent can be accessed by clicking on, tapping on, or otherwiseselecting the image of an item. The supplemental content can reroute auser to a website, can apply a coupon or discount code for orderingproducts, can be an audio or video feature. In some embodiments, thesupplemental content can provide an augmented reality experience, avirtual reality experience, can display a holographic message, sound,movie, and the like. The augmented reality and virtual reality contentcan be accessed using a mobile computing device or virtual realityhardware or devices.

As one example of supplemental content, a health food advertiser cancreate an advertising campaign that associates the health foodadvertiser's supplemental content, via the CPDB module 110, with aphysical mail piece sent by a health food store, franchisor, franchisee,or other similar entity. After associating the supplemental content, theCPDB module 110 can then distribute the supplemental content to the itemrecipient. In this case, the distribution network 155 may providecompensation to the third-party item sender such as free shipping,discounted shipping, or a discount coupon in exchange for thesupplemental content being associated with their item. Alternatively,the distribution network 155 may provide compensation to the itemrecipient in exchange for receiving and interacting with thesupplemental content advertisement. In some embodiments, the health foodadvertiser may compensate the item sender or the item recipient inexchange for the supplemental content being associated with the item.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 125 may generate a supplementalcontent recipient list and distribute supplemental content to that listwithout any item association. In this case, the CPDB module 110 cangenerate the supplemental content recipient list using data from pastsupplemental content recipient lists, email lists, instant message userlists, direct message user lists, social media user lists, and the like.Supplemental content recipients may receive a commission, discountcoupons, or other form of compensation in exchange for receiving andinteracting with the supplemental content.

In some embodiments, the content interface 125, and any other interfacedescribed herein, may additionally provide an advertiser user withconfigurable dashboards, reports, queries, and alerts. The contentinterface 125 may be configured to allow the advertiser user to analyze,manipulate, or trend data regarding the advertiser user's sent items,the advertiser user's supplemental content, and the advertiser user'sadvertising campaign settings, in whatever way the user wants. Thecontent interface may allow customization of system preferences,including options to set delegation access in profile settings, managesubscriptions, navigate to other distributor, carrier, or shipperwebpages, and view favorite queries and reports.

In some embodiments, the item sender or provider of supplemental contentmay change a campaign during the time of the campaign based on feedbackor results obtained from the system 100. The item sender and the contentprovider may stagger the printing and the delivery of items based, atleast in part, on campaign data communicated from the CPDB module 110 tothe distribution network 155 via the distribution network user interface135. For example, the health food advertiser may decide that they wantto alter an advertising campaign in real-time, based on item feedbackdata from item recipients or supplemental content feedback data fromsupplemental content recipients. The advertising campaign alterationsmay include changes to the appearance of the print advertisement items,changes to the appearance of the supplemental content associated withprint advertisement items, changes to the recipient lists for either theprint advertisement items or the supplemental content, and the like.

The item feedback data may comprise user shipping preferences such asusers rejecting delivery of the item, rejecting delivery of all itemsfrom the sender, changing the shipping address associated with the item,or rescheduling the delivery date of the item. The item feedback datamay additionally comprise recipient conversion data received via therecipient user interface 115 or a third-party interface. For example, aprint advertisement may include a discount coupon code specific to theadvertising campaign that can be used to track the success of thecampaign. When a recipient purchases the advertised product using thediscount coupon code, the advertiser can communicate that recipientconversion data to the CPDB module 110 via one of the interfacesdescribed above.

The recipient user interface 115 can display to a recipient, such as aregistered recipient, images of mail pieces or items that are intendedfor delivery to a recipient on a certain day or within a certain timeperiod. The distribution network 155 can provide data regarding items tobe delivered on a day or within a time period to the CPDB 110. The CPDB110 can identify which of the items to be delivered have supplemental orenhanced digital content associated with them. For items with which theCPDB 110 has supplemental content or enhanced digital content, images ofthose physical items are provided to the recipient user interface 115for the specific recipient of the physical item or items. The recipientuser interface 115 can provide these images in an email, via anapplication, a website, and the like.

The supplemental content feedback data may comprise time spent viewingthe content, mouse clicks, mouse clicks that lead to a purchase of aproduct, mouse hovers, scrolling, tapping, dragging, sharing the contentvia social media, forwarding the supplemental content via email,forwarding the supplemental content via text message, forwarding thesupplemental content via instant message, re-posting the supplementalcontent on a webpage, embedding the supplemental content on a webpage,and the like.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 may provide therecipient user with configurable dashboards, reports, queries, andalerts. The recipient user interface 115 may be configured to allow therecipient user to analyze, manipulate, or trend data regarding therecipient user's items and the recipient user's supplemental content, inwhatever way the recipient user wants. The recipient user interface 115may be configured to allow the recipient user to customize systempreferences, including options to set delegation access in profilesettings, manage subscriptions, navigate to other distributor, carrier,or shipper webpages, and view favorite queries and reports. In someembodiments, the recipient user interface 115 can provide additionalfunctionality including buttons, links, or other features. For example,where the item is an advertisement, the additional functionality can bea button, link, or input which allows for easy, single click ordering ofa product associated with the supplemental content or the item. If theitem or mailpiece is a bill, such as a credit card or utility bill, therecipient user interface 115 can include a button or link for easy orquick paying of a bill, without the need to navigate to a separatewebsite. Clicking the button may generate a pop-up menu for paying. Insome embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 can provideadditional functionality such as online voting, ordering/sending moneyorders, buying stamps and postage, or other functions.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 may enable arecipient user to choose various topical categories of personal interestsuch as hobbies, favorite movies, favorite books, favorite sports, andthe like. In this case, the CPDB module 110 may use these topic choicesto determine which items and supplemental content to send to therecipient user. For example, the recipient user may choose topicalinterests such as exercise, health food, and movies. The CPDB module110, based in part on these recipient user choices, may then add thisrecipient user to various item mailing lists and supplementaldistribution content lists, such as lists for gym membershipadvertisements, health food store advertisements, and movie theateradvertisements. The recipient user interface 115 may be additionallyconfigured to enable the recipient user to prevent item delivery andsupplemental content delivery regarding certain topics or from a certainsender.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 will list itemsscheduled for delivery to the recipient user. In this case, theinterface may list details associated with each item such as dimensions,weight, item sender, item category, pictures of the item, and the like.The CPDB module 110 may classify the items by category such as bills,personal correspondence, bank documents, advertisements, and the like.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 may enable therecipient user to select an option to accept, reject, or postpone thedelivery of each item scheduled for delivery to the recipient user. TheCPDB module 110 may store the recipient user's choice in a userpreference database 310, and also communicate that choice with thedistribution network 155. In some embodiments, the recipient userinterface 115 can communicate the recipient user's item preference datadirectly to the distribution network 155.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 enables arecipient to reroute or redirect an item to an alternate deliverydestination, to an electronic parcel locker, to a P.O. box or otherdesired destination. The recipient user interface 115 can be used toselect a specific parcel locker location, bank of lockers, or a specificlocker in a specific location. When the recipient goes to the parcellocker, the recipient can use a mobile computing device on which therecipient user interface 115 is being used to request opening of thelocker. The mobile computing device can communicate with the locker andrequest the locker open in response to commands provided via therecipient user interface 115.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 allows a recipientto report that an item which was supposed to be delivered was notdelivered, to report that items intended for another recipient oraddress were incorrectly delivered, and the like.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 allows a user tosend a response to a received mail item. For example, if the item to bedelivered, or which was delivered, is a birthday card, the recipientcan, via a feature in the recipient user interface 115, initiate sendinga response to the sender, including a personalized message, such as athank you, etc., and the distribution network will automatically prepareand send the response. The recipient user interface 115 can generate aseries of menus that the recipient can walkthrough to generate or createa response to send, which will then be sent by the distribution network.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 can include anoption for a user to provide an electronic signature for receipt of anitem, such as a parcel. Some items, such as high value items, require asignature from the recipient before the item can be left at the deliveryaddress. When an image of such an item is received by the recipient inthe recipient user interface 115, the recipient can select an electronicsignature, indicating that a carrier or delivery entity can leave theitem on the porch, in the garage, in the mailbox, or in another placewhich can be specified by the recipient. This can reduce the number offirst delivery attempt failures, and can allow a recipient to receivedelivery of an item even when the recipient is not able to be at thedelivery address to sign for the item. The electronic signature can betied to a login credential used to access the recipient user interface115, the device on which the recipient user interface 115 is accessed,or it can have an input to receive an image of a signature. Thesignature can be compared to a previously obtained signature for therecipient, and can be stored for future use.

For example, a recipient user may decide that they do not want toreceive items from a specific sender. Using the interface 115, therecipient user could reject each current item scheduled for deliveryfrom that sender or reject all current and future items from thatsender. After receiving the item rejection status data, the distributionnetwork 155 can then return the item to the sender, deliver the item toanother recipient, or destroy the item. Alternatively, a recipient usermay decide to postpone the delivery of a package because of weatherconditions or theft concerns. In this case, the recipient user maydetermine from the item dimensions or item picture that the item wouldnot fit in the mail box. Because of the item size, the recipient usermay be worried that the item may be exposed to bad weather or possibletheft. Based on this information, the recipient user may decide tochange the scheduled delivery date to a date when the recipient user isgoing to be present at the delivery location. The recipient user cancommunicate the new delivery date and address to the distributionnetwork 155 via the recipient user interface 115. After receiving theupdated delivery information, the distribution network 155 may hold onto the item until the new delivery date or divert the item to the newdelivery address.

In some embodiments, the recipient user interface 115 may providesupplemental content which allows a user to automatically purchase anitem and have the item shipped to an address on file in the useraccount. This can occur when a user clicks or taps on an image of amailpiece, or on another portion of the image or of the recipient userinterface 115.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 may distribute supplementalcontent, to an item recipient, comprising a digital discount coupon in atext message. The item recipient may forward the text message to thirdparties such as friends, family members, or associates. These thirdparties can interact with the supplemental content using a third-partytext message interface. These interactions may comprise clicking ortapping on the digital discount coupon to redeem it online, printing thediscount coupon, saving the discount coupon, and the like. Thethird-party interface may then communicate the interaction data to theCPDB module 110 using an API, embedded content, a remote databaseconnection, file transfer protocol, secure file transfer protocol, asecure shell connection, and the like.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 may distribute supplementalcontent, to an item recipient, comprising a digital discount coupon inan instant message. The item recipient may forward the instant messageto third parties such as friends, family members, or associates. Thesethird parties can then interact with the supplemental content using athird party instant message interface. These interactions may compriseclicking or tapping on the discount coupon to redeem it online, printingthe discount coupon, saving the discount coupon, and the like. Thesocial media interface can then communicate the interaction data to theCPDB module 110 using an API, embedded content, a remote databaseconnection, file transfer protocol, secure file transfer protocol, asecure shell connection, and the like.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 may distribute supplementalcontent, to an item recipient, comprising a digital discount coupon inembedded content on a webpage. The item recipient may then forward theembedded content to third parties such as friends, family members, orassociates. These third parties can then interact with the supplementalcontent using a third party internet browser. These interactions maycomprise clicking or tapping on the discount coupon to redeem it online,printing the discount coupon, saving the discount coupon, and the like.The internet browsing interface can then communicate the interactiondata to the CPDB module 110 using an API, embedded content, a remotedatabase connection, file transfer protocol, secure file transferprotocol, a secure shell connection, and the like.

In one example, the health food advertiser provides the contentinterface 125 with advertising data relating to a new organic eggadvertising campaign. After receiving the data, the CPDB module 110generates a recipient list based on audience demographic data selectionsand campaign data received from the content interface 125 input by thehealth food advertiser. The health food advertiser may also choose toassociate with the campaign one or more mail item or mail item types fordelivery by the distribution network. The recipients may be chosen basedon recipient or preference information stored in the CPDB 110. Toillustrate, the CPDB may select to send the supplemental content torecipients who have previously purchased items from the health store orother similar health stores, people who subscribe to magazines relatedto food or organic food, high-income recipients, who live within ageographical area from the health store, people who buy running shoes,or any other desired recipient information.

In this case, the health food advertiser entered into the user interface125 audience demographic data selections consisting of recipients wholive in the city of San Diego, have indicated a previous interest in thetopics of exercise and health food, and have a purchase history ofbuying organic food products. The content interface 125 allows thehealth food advertiser in this example to select these categoriesthrough a variety of options such as dropdowns menus, check boxes, radiobuttons, text fields, text areas, auto-fill text fields, and the like.The health food advertiser may choose to limit the total number ofrecipients in this group to a set number or to a percentage of the totalavailable recipients matching the demographic data. In addition todemographic data, the health food advertiser can associate supplementalcontent with the campaign via the content interface 125. Thesupplemental content in this example may comprise a hyperlink to adigital discount coupon for discounted organic eggs.

After receiving the campaign data, the CPDB module 110 will associatethe supplemental content with the item recipient list and distribute thesupplemental content to the recipients in the recipient list. Each itemrecipient in this example will receive an email or text messagenotification regarding the shipped item. The notification will includethe supplemental content hyperlink. The supplemental content mayadditionally comprise an image or text describing the discount offer.The recipient can interact with the notification using an email or textmessage interface. If the recipient clicks or taps on the discountcoupon hyperlink, the health food advertiser will be charged for theinteraction. In some embodiments, the health food advertiser may pay foreach 1000 impressions of their supplemental content. In someembodiments, the health food advertiser may pay for each time arecipient redeems the coupon by purchasing organic eggs.

In some embodiments, the campaign data changes may be made by the healthfood advertiser after each round of supplemental content distributionvia the content interface 125 or by a third-party user interface. Forexample, the health food advertiser may configure their organic eggadvertisement campaign to stagger distribution. After each round ofdistribution, the CPDB module 110 will pause the campaign and notify thehealth food advertiser regarding the campaign status. The health foodadvertiser can then view, using the advertising user interface 125,statistics regarding recipient interaction with the most recent group ofdistributed supplemental content. In this example the advertiser maynotice that their supplemental content campaign has a fifty percenthigher click rate with middle-aged recipients. The health foodadvertiser can then alter their campaign list to exclusively targetmiddle aged-recipients. After finalizing the campaign changes, thehealth food advertiser will then un-pause the campaign, and the CPDBmodule 110 will begin distributing another round of supplementalcontent. In some embodiments, the campaign data changes from thisexample may be made automatically by the CPDB module 110 and thenapproved by the advertiser user via the content interface 125 or by athird-party user interface.

The potential users of the supplemental content system are not limitedto health food advertisers. For example, a national advertiser such as adepartment store chain may decide to promote a holiday sale via thesupplemental content system. In another example, an online streamingmusic service may utilize the system to generate more users through asupplemental content advertising campaign offering a free week ofstreaming music in exchange for filling out an online contact form. Inyet another example, a local government agency could utilize thesupplemental content system to spread a public service announcementregarding the importance of conserving water during a drought. In thisexample, the supplemental content could be associated with mail itemssuch water bills or lawn care supplies. The supplemental content can beaccessed by clicking or tapping on the image of the water bill displayedin the recipient user interface 115.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart depicting a process 200 for managing supplementalcontent. The process 200 begins in step 205, where the CPDB module 110associates supplemental content, such as advertising campaign data, withan item, or with a plurality of similar items intended to be sent via adistribution network, such as the USPS. The provider of supplementalcontent can provide an example, such as a digital version of a physicalitem with which the supplemental content will be associated. In someembodiments, the provider of supplemental content can include anidentifier, such as a computer readable identifier, to the CPDB 110which will be associated with the supplemental content. When thedistribution network scans the identifier, the processing equipment ofthe distribution network 155 will identify, or the CPDB 110 willidentify or recognize the identifier and retrieve or access theassociated supplemental content. Step 205 comprises generating anadvertising campaign 206, generating an item address distribution list208, and generating supplemental content 209, as will be describedgreater detail below with reference to FIG. 2B.

The process 200 moves to step 210, wherein the distribution networkreceives the item. In a distribution network, such as a postal system,items may comprise mail pieces such as letters, flats, packages, orother mailed items. It should also be noted that in some embodiments,step 205 may be performed after step 210. The physical item can bereceived from the provider of supplemental content, or from anotherparty who prepares the content. The physical item can have the uniqueidentifier thereon which is associated with the supplemental content.

The process 200 next moves to step 215, wherein item scan information isreceived. Item scan information can be received from a mobile scanner, ahandheld scanner, item processing equipment, a full service handheldscanner, from the transportation system, and the like, upon scanning thephysical item within the distribution network 155. The scan informationincludes a computer readable code encoding the identifier, which isattached to or associated with the item, information regarding thedevice or equipment which performed the scan, including device/equipmenttype and location, and a handling event type. The scan information mayalso include one or more images of the item. The scan information isreceived by system 100 via one of the interfaces described above.

The process 200 next moves to step 220, wherein the CPDB module 110stores the scan information, and accesses supplemental or enhanceddigital content associated with the scan information, including thescanned identifier.

After the scan information is stored, the process 200 next moves to step225, wherein the CPDB module 110 communicates the item data, includingimages of the item, and supplemental content to the recipient userinterface 115. The CPDB module 110 may additionally send item data andsupplemental content to a recipient via third party interfaces usingemail, text messages, social media, instant messages, internetadvertisements, phone applications, website browsers, and the like. Insome embodiments, it is desirable to only send the supplemental content,item data, and images of the item to the recipient user interface 115,such as the hybrid digital mailbox associated with a user and/or auser's account, when the item is out for delivery, or is intended fordelivery within a certain time period, such the current day, the nextday, within 24 hours, or any other desired period. The scan informationprovided to and stored in the CPDB module 110 can include an identifieror an indication of the location of the scan, the type of equipmentproviding the scan, and the like. The CPDB module 110 can use theidentifier or identification of the scanning equipment to determine whatstage in the distribution network the item is in. The CPDB module 110can receive the item's induction scan and identify associatedsupplemental content for the item, but may not provide the supplementalcontent or item information to the recipient user interface 115 upon theinduction scan. When the scan information comes from a digital barcodescanner, or other type of sorting equipment, or a last-mile scan, or ascan at a local unit delivery facility is received, the CPDB module 110can determine that the item is out for delivery, or scheduled fordelivery within the desired time period. When the item is going to bedelivered within the time period, or is out for delivery, the CPDB 110can send the supplemental content, item information, and the like to therecipient user interface 115.

The process 200 next moves to decision state 240, wherein the itemrecipient accepts or rejects an item scheduled to be delivered to therecipient. The recipient can accept or reject the item which is out fordelivery or intended for delivery within the desired time period via therecipient user interface 115. In some embodiments, the recipient canrequest to reroute the item to another location, request a hold beplaced on delivery, or report incorrect delivery. Alternatively, therecipient may accept or reject the item via a third party interfaceusing mediums of communication such as emails, text messages, socialmedia, instant messages, internet advertisements, phone applications,website browsers, and the like. The recipient user interface 115presents the recipient with item data comprising delivery date and time,item dimensions, item pictures, item sender information, and the like.The recipient can use this information to determine whether to accept orreject the item by selecting the appropriate option in the recipientuser interface 115. Once the recipient accepts or rejects the item, theCPDB module 110 will store the recipient preference. In someembodiments, the recipient may have preset preferences for receipt ofitems, such as an automatic rejection of all items from a certain senderor on a certain topic, or an automatic permission for all items from acertain sender (a “safe” sender), or a periodicity for delivery ofcertain types of items. For example, a recipient may desire to receiveunsolicited physical mail, such as advertisements, once a week, on acertain day, or at any other desired periodicity. A recipient may desirethat all parcels or packages are delivered to an alternate location,such as a parcel locker or P.O. box, are placed on the front porch,behind a plant, etc. A recipient may wish to have utility or other billsall arrive on a certain day of the week. In such situations, when anitem is scanned, the CPDB module 110 will access the preferences for therecipient, and can route the item or provide item delivery instructionsaccordingly.

The CPDB module 110 will then communicate the recipient user preferenceto the distribution network 155. If the item is accepted or therecipient does not make a selection, the process moves to step 250, andthe distribution network 155 will deliver the item. If the recipientchooses to reject, reroute, postpone delivery, or provide another optionfor the item, the process moves to step 230, wherein the distributionnetwork 155 will prevent the rejected item being delivered to therecipient, or will route the item according to instructions orpreferences. In the case the item is rejected, the distribution network155 may return the item to sender, dispose of the item, recycle theitem, or send the item to a new recipient based on campaign settingscreated in step 205. In some embodiments, the recipient may accept theitem by failing to explicitly accept or reject the item within a setamount of time.

The process 200 next moves to step 255, wherein an interface captures arecipient user's interaction with supplemental content. Step 255 maycomprise a recipient user interacting with the supplemental content viathe recipient user interface 115 or a third party interface such as aninternet browser, a phone application, a computer program, and the like.The interaction data may comprise mouse movements, mouse clicks, stylusmovements, stylus clicks, touch screen interaction, eye tracking, motiontracking, voice commands, and the like. In some embodiments, a secondaryrecipient of the supplemental content may interact with the supplementalcontent 257. For example, the original supplemental content recipientmay decide to share a hyperlink to the supplemental content, on a socialmedia platform. In this case, the users of the social media platform canthen open the hyperlink and interact with the supplemental content.These secondary recipients of the supplemental content can then re-sharethe supplemental content with other users of the social media platform.Each interaction with the supplemental content can be recorded and caninclude a unique identifier for the content and interaction which can beassociated with the physical item, or with the digital representation ofthe item in the recipient user interface 115, in order to track theinteractions from a specific user, or for a specific item in therecipient user interface 115.

The process 200 next moves to step 260, wherein the CPDB module 110reviews the supplemental content interaction data generated in step 255.This step will be described in greater detail below.

The process 200 next moves to step 280, wherein the CPDB 110 determineswhether all or a substantial portion of the items associated with thecampaign or supplemental content have been delivered to the intendedrecipients. If all items have been delivered, then the process ends. Ifthere are additional items to be delivered, the process continues tostep 205. The CPDB module 110 can then apply any campaign changes, fromstep 260, in step 205.

FIG. 2B depicts an embodiment of step 205. Step 205 begins with sub-step206, wherein the a sender, shipper, mailer, advertiser, or other partyprovides the supplemental content, campaign data, item information,distribution lists, parameters for identifying potential recipients,target markets, payments, and the like to the content interface 125,which, in turn, stores all the information in the CPDB module 110 andassociates the information with the physical mail items to be delivered.In some embodiments, the supplemental or digital content, such asadvertising campaign data may be generated, formatted, altered, etc., bythe CPDB module 110. For example, the CPDB module 110 can set thecampaign duration, alter the campaign budget, or generate supplementalcontent for the campaign using one or more supplemental content layouttemplates.

The process 200, in step 205, moves to sub-step 208, wherein the contentinterface 125 provides the CPDB module 110 with the item distributionlists and supplemental content distribution lists. The item andsupplemental content distribution lists can comprise item andsupplemental content recipient information such as names, physicaladdresses, email addresses, social media user names, instant messageuser names, phone numbers, intelligent addresses, and the like. In someembodiments, the sender, advertiser, or the like provides a code toassociate with the supplemental content, or receives a code from thedistribution network 155 via the network 120 that is or will be on thephysical item, and the code is stored. The code is associated withsupplemental content provided by the advertiser or the item sender. Whenthe item is scanned or processed on sorting or distribution equipment,such as mail processing equipment, an image of the item is obtained, andthe code thereon can be deciphered. The code is compared to storedcodes. If a match is identified between a deciphered code and a storedcode, the supplemental content associated with the stored code isassociated with the image of the item. When the recipient interacts withthe image of the item, the associated supplemental content is provided.

The process 200 next moves to step 209, wherein the CPDB module 110associates supplemental content with the advertising campaign 206. Anadvertiser user can provide the supplemental content 209 to the CPDBmodule 110 via the content interface 125.

In an alternative embodiment, the CPDB module 110 may generate or alterthe supplemental content. In this case, an advertiser user can edit andapprove the CPDB module's supplemental content changes via the contentinterface 125.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, step 208 may be performedafter step 209. Additionally, process 200 is described here with regardto one or a few items, or one or a few pieces of supplemental content,and as one process. However, in the case of a distribution network, suchas USPS, process 200 may be occurring many times in parallel, or may beoccurring many times with different steps of process 200 occurring fordifferent items or different pieces of supplemental content, at the sametime.

FIG. 2C depicts one embodiment of step 260. Step 260 comprises sub-step263, wherein the CPDB module 110 receives the interaction data fromsteps 255 and 257 and the CPDB module 110 generating campaign inferencesand recipient inferences 263.

In sub-step 264, The CPDB module 110 stores the inferences 264, and theCPDB module 110 optimizes campaign settings based on the inferences 264.The CPDB module 110 may optimize the campaign settings in step 265 by,but not limited to, customizing in real-time unviewed supplementalcontent to the recipient, customizing supplemental content to therecipient for future distribution, removing the recipient from therecipient list, adding the recipient to additional recipient lists,customizing the item to the recipient, ending the campaign, pausing thecampaign, creating a new campaign, and the like.

In sub-step 266, the CPDB module 110 notifies the advertiser user of thechanges 266 via the content interface 125 or the item sender userinterface 140. The CPDB module 110 generated inferences will bedescribed in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 3. The CPDBmodule 110 will then notify the advertiser user of any campaign changes266. In some embodiments, the CPDB may require the advertiser user toapprove the campaign changes using the interface 125.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of data flow between a variety of systems,subsystems, or modules used in the tracking and gathering of data foruse by the CPDB module 110. The inputs depicted in input module 329provide data to an inference generator 335 which enables the inferencegenerator 335 to provide the functionality, features, and servicesdescribed herein.

Input module 329 comprises one or more of the following data sources: anadvertising database 305, a user information database 310, and asupplemental content interaction database 315. In some embodiments,input module 329 may comprise a processor, memory, databases, addressand control lines, and other components. In other embodiments, 329 maybe configured to use the processor, memory, databases, address andcontrol lines, and other components of the CPDB module 110. It is to beunderstood that the term database is not limited to a component thatonly stores data but, in some embodiments, the databases describedherein can also be used to manipulate data, edit data, generate newdata, and other functions. Databases can store information in multiplefile formats, arrangements, tables, etc. Databases herein may havededicated or shared processors or memory. In some embodiments, theinference generator 335 may receive input from additional data sourcesnot listed in FIG. 3.

The advertising database 305 receives input data from one or more of theuser interfaces described above. The data can include supplementalcontent, budgets, impression targets, campaign duration, campaign startdate, campaign end date, cost-per-click allowance, target recipientdemographics, item associations, and the like.

The user information database 310 receives input data from one or moreof the user interfaces described above. The data comprises physicalcharacteristics such as age, gender, height, weight, and the like;personal characteristics such as birthdate, address, relationshipstatus, family member details, employment status, and the like; contactinformation such as phone numbers, home address, work address, emailaddresses, social media usernames, instant message usernames, and thelike. The user information database 310 can use criteria provided in thecontent interface 125 when a campaign is created, and the criteria canbe selected by the advertiser, shipper, and the like.

In some embodiments, the user information database 310 receives inferreduser metric data and inferred user preference data from the inferencegenerator 335. The inference generator comprises one or more algorithmsthat use statistical comparison, machine learning, and the like tolocate patterns in both the item data and the user data stored in theCPDB module 110. This process is described in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, the user information database 310 receives usermetric data from third party data sources. The third party data sourcescommunicate the data to the CPDB module 110 by way of an API, embeddedcontent, a remote database connection, file transfer protocol, securefile transfer protocol, a secure shell connection, and the like. Thisdata comprises physical characteristics such as age, gender, race,height, weight, and the like; personal characteristics such asbirthdate, address, relationship status, family member details,employment status, and the like; contact information such as phonenumbers, home address, work address, email addresses, social mediausernames, instant message usernames, and the like; personal interestinformation such as hobbies, favorite movies, favorite books, topics ofinterest, favorite sports, dislikes, and the like; financial informationsuch as income levels, bank account data, real estate ownership, creditrating, car ownership, and the like; internet use data such as internetsearch history, social media use history, and digital advertisementinteraction data, and the like; purchase data such as grocery storepurchases, retail purchases, online purchases, and the like.

The supplemental content database 315 receives input data from one ormore of the user interfaces described above. The data can include adigital discount coupon, graphics, video, email, webpage, hyperlink,text message, instant message, social media message, virtual oraugmented reality content, and the like. The data may further compriseuser interactions with supplemental content such as time spent viewingthe content, mouse clicks, mouse hovers, scrolling, tapping, dragging,sharing the content via social media, forwarding the content via email,forwarding the content via text message, forwarding the content viainstant message, re-posting the content on a webpage, embedding thecontent on a webpage, and the like.

In some embodiments, the supplemental content database 315 may receivesupplemental content data from a third party data source by way of anAPI, embedded content, a remote database connection, file transferprotocol, secure file transfer protocol, a secure shell connection, andthe like. In one embodiment, the CPDB module 110 email an item recipientsupplemental content comprising a digital discount coupon. Toillustrate, an item recipient, such as a mail recipient in the postalservice, may receive a notification from the CPDB module 110 via anemail, instant message, text message, social media message, and thelike. In this case, the notification may comprise information about anitem scheduled for delivery and a piece of supplemental contentassociated with the item. The supplemental content may comprise adigital coupon, graphic, video, email, webpage, hyperlink, text message,instant message, social media message, text, and the like. The recipientuser's interactions with the supplemental content may be recorded by thethird party user interface, communicated to the CPDB module 110, andthen stored by the CPDB module 110 in the supplemental contentinteraction database 315.

The inference generator 335 receives data from the input module 329. Theinference generator 335 analyzes the data from input module 329 bysearching for patterns in the data. In some embodiments, the inferencegenerator 335 may use statistical comparison algorithms 330, machinelearning algorithms 340, and the like to locate patterns in the datafrom 329. The located patterns can comprise a recipient user's spendinghabits, which types of supplemental content have high conversion rates,which types of items have a high rejection rate, and the like. Afterlocating the patterns, the inference generator 335 uses the patterns togenerate inferences relating to advertising campaign success 350,recipient user metrics 355, recipient user preferences 360, and thelike. Inferences can comprise a recipient user's gender, a recipientuser's age, a recipient user's interest level in certain types ofproduct, and the like. For example, the inference generator 335 maydetermine that recipients matching a particular demographic displayhigher click-through rates or spend more time viewing or interactingwith supplemental content than other demographics. In some embodiments,the inference generator 335 may determine that a particular feature ofthe supplemental content generates more views, traffic, clicks, timespent viewing, and the like. These inferences are exemplary only, and aperson of skill in the art, guided by this disclosure, will understandhow other inferences can be made using the data received from therecipient user interface 115 and/or the distribution network 155.

In some embodiments, the machine learning algorithms 340 can also beutilized for mail image recognition. This would be utilized in order todetermine whether there was a pattern between the images presented on amailpiece, and the user's interaction with a mailpiece. For example, ifa user were to interact more favorably with some images than others,that would allow for personalized tailoring of mail campaigns. Forexample, those who tend to respond better to mail campaigns withpictures of cats would get a mailing with cat pictures, and those whopreferred dogs would get dog pictures. This can result in highlypersonalized supplemental content. Additionally, in some embodiments,the machine learning algorithms 340 could be utilized in order to doanonymized analysis. This may include determining how a user interactswith mail, and provide recommendations. This recommendation engine couldbe utilized in a way that can analyze patterns in user behavior, groupthat behavior in aggregate, and then provide recommendations. Forexample, if a user were to repeatedly interact with a particularoutdoors provider, the recommendation engine could provide the option toreceive additional mail from similar providers.

After generating the inferences, the CPDB module 110 may alter campaignsettings based on the inferences, such as sending item to a certaindemographic more frequently or as a higher percentage of all recipients,or by altering features of the supplemental content which have generatedmore click-throughs. The campaign changes 345 are stored in the contentdatabase 305. The CPDB module 110 may also store inferred advertisementsuccess data 350 in the supplemental content database 315, inferredrecipient user metric data 355 in the user information database 310, andinferred recipient user preference data in the user information database310.

The inference generator 335 also provide inferences for recipients basedon previously stored recipient information. For example, the inferencegenerator 335 may generate an inference that a mail recipient recentlybecame a parent, had a birthday, got married, graduated, bought a car,bought a house, planned a vacation, or the like. In the case of becominga parent, the mail recipient made multiple social media posts aboutbabies and purchased multiple baby products over a couple month timeperiod. In generating the inference, the CPDB module 110 first storesthis data in the input module 329. Next, the inference generator 335queries the data, finds patterns in the data, and generates theinference that the mail recipient is a new parent based off the datapatterns. After generating the inference, the CPDB module 110 will thenstore the new mail recipient demographic data in the user informationdatabase 310. The inferred user spending/life events/demographic datagenerated by the inference generator 335 can be sent to the userinformation database 310 and can be stored. User preference data 360inferred by the inference generator 335 based on interactions withsupplemental content can also be stored in the user information database310. Stored user spending/life event/demographic data 355 and userpreferences data 360 in the user information database 310 can be usedwhen advertising campaigns, distribution lists, and the like arereceived and prepared in the future.

In some embodiments, CPDB module 110 can use inference data from blocks350, 355, and 360 to generate additional inferences regarding how arecipient may interact with items and supplemental content. In someembodiments, the CPDB module 110 may use inference data to custom tailorcontent to a recipient before sending the item or the supplementalcontent to that recipient. In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 canuse inference data to custom tailor unviewed supplemental content sentto a recipient. For example, the CPDB module 110 may send supplementalcontent to a recipient comprising a text message with a hyperlink to awebpage. After sending the text message but before the recipient opensthe link, the CPDB module 110 may determine that the recipient tends tointeract with supplemental content for longer time periods when thecontent uses a blue background. The CPDB module 110 may then alter thewebpage so that background color displays as blue for that recipient.The webpage background color would remain the original color for otherrecipients.

In some embodiments, the CPDB module 110 can use inference data to alteradvertising campaign item distribution lists and supplemental contentrecipient lists stored in the advertising database 305. In this case,the CPDB 110 module can add a recipient to distribution lists that matchan advertiser or sender's requested or target demographic data andremove the recipient from distribution lists that do not match.

For example, the CPDB 110 module could remove a recipient from anadvertising campaign targeting people who purchase sports cars. In thisexample the CPDB module 110 determined that the recipient's demographicdata is strongly correlated with people who buy automobiles with aboveaverage storage space. After making this inference, the CPDB module 110would then remove the recipient from the sports car advertisementcampaign list and add that recipient to a mailing list targetingpotential minivan and sports utility vehicle purchasers. After updatingthese lists, the CPDB module 110 will communicate these changes to thedistribution network 155. The distribution network 155 can hold orreturn to the sender any items that are scheduled to be delivered to therecipient based on the list that the recipient was removed from.Additionally, the distribution network 155 will send items to therecipient based on the new list that they were added to. In this case,either the sender would provide the distribution network with additionalitems for the new recipient, the distribution network would have accessto surplus items to send to the new recipient, similar to a fulfillmentcenter, or the distribution network would generate new items for the newrecipient, such as printing out additional mailer advertisements.

FIG. 5A and 5B depict data flows for campaign management system 500.This diagram is exemplary, and can provide additional details about thecomponents that make us the CPDB module 102 described herein. A personof skill in the art will understand, however, that the CPDB module 102can include on or more, or a subset of the components shown in thecampaign management system 500, and that there may be some overlapbetween the detailed campaign management system 500 components andcomponents described elsewhere herein.

The campaign management system 500 includes a CPDB 502. The CPDB 502 isthe master repository of aggregated customer behavior, preferences,patterns, and the like, and can be similar to those described elsewhereherein. The CPDB is in communication with a reporting server 504 and amailer portal 506. The reporting server 504 aggregates data from thevarious parts of the campaign management system 500 and provides data toboth the distribution network systems and the customers. The mailerportal 506 provides reports and dashboards for participating mailers,such as advertisers, shippers, item senders, and the like. Mailers cansee the status of their campaigns, view analytical data, controlparameters about content, approve content changes, and interact with allother portions. The mailer portal 506 can be similar to interfacesdescribed elsewhere herein.

The reporting server 504 is in communication with a URL redirect module510. The URL redirect module 510 provides a gateway for click-throughs.As recipients click links, or otherwise interact with supplementalcontent in the recipient user interface, the links arrive at the URLredirect module. The clicks and interactions with the supplementalcontent are received at the URL redirect module 510 to be counted andmailers, senders, advertisers, and the like can be charged before therecipients of the mailpiece are forward to their intended destination.

The reporting server 504 is also in communication with a messagegenerator 512. The message generator 512 is a central location wheremessages for subscribers, recipients, etc. can be generated regardlessof the end delivery format, e.g., email, text, voicemail, video,graphics, and the like. The message generator 512 receives mail images,supplemental content (ride-along content), subscriber lists, andbusiness rules to generate content to be pushed through the appropriatemessaging channel.

The message generator 512 can receive mail images from mail processingequipment 514. The mail processing equipment 514 can have wide field ofview cameras that image items being processed. The captured images canbe routed through mail image capture servers at local plants which areaggregated and sent to a central image server in communication with themessage generator 512.

The message generator 512 receives supplemental content, such asride-along content from a supplemental content repository 520. Thesupplemental content repository 520 receives supplemental content fromthe advertise, mailer, sender, and the like, and provides theassociation with the physical mailpieces described elsewhere herein viathe mailer portal 506. The supplemental content can include all of thedigital assets that have been uploaded by mailers, senders, advertisers,etc., for inclusion with notifications, described herein.

The message generator 512 can generate XML messages to send to a messagegateway 516. The message gateway 516 includes an email formatter toconvert XML data into email to be sent to recipients. The messagegateway 516 also includes a formatter to receive XML, data from themessage generator 512 to display in web pages, mobile devices,applications, and for any other format.

The message generator 512 is also in communication with a registrationmodule 518. The registration module provides a recipient or customer anability to register with the system 500 to receive notifications,messages, and supplemental content described herein.

The mailer portal 506 is in communication with the reporting server 504,from which it can obtain information regarding campaign status,messaging, and other statistics described herein. The mailer portal 506is in communication with the CPDB 502, allowing a mailer to providecampaign data, requests, and the like to the CPDB 502 for use innotifications and messages provided by the message generator 512. Themailer portal 506 is additionally in communication with the URL redirectmodule 510, which enables the mailer to see how many links were clickedand by whom. This also allows the mailer to set the final destinationfor a link when a user clicks on a supplemental content link in thenotification.

The technology is operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, and the like.

The present disclosure refers to processor-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed stepundertaken by components of the system.

The one or more processors may be implemented with any combination ofgeneral-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmablelogic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discretehardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or anyother suitable entities that may perform calculations or othermanipulations of information. The central hub 120 may comprise aprocessor such as, for example, a microprocessor, such as a Pentium®processor, a Pentium® Pro processor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS®processor, a Power PC® processor, an Alpha® processor, amicrocontroller, an Intel CORE i7®, i5®, or i3® processor, an AMDPhenom®, A-series or FX® processor, or the like. The processor 111typically has conventional address lines, conventional data lines, andone or more conventional control lines.

The system may be used in connection with various operating systems suchas Linux®, UNIX®, MacOS®, or Microsoft Windows®.

The system control may be written in any conventional programminglanguage such as C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, or Java, and ran under aconventional operating system. C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, Java, and FORTRANare industry standard programming languages for which many commercialcompilers can be used to create executable code. The system control mayalso be written using interpreted languages such as Perl, Python orRuby.

Those of skill will further recognize that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, software stored on a computer readable medium andexecutable by a processor, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such embodimentdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosedherein may be implemented in a processor-executable software modulewhich may reside on a computer-readable medium. Memory Computer-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and communication mediaincluding any medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer programfrom one place to another. A storage media may be any available mediathat may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to storedesired program code in the form of instructions or data structures andthat may be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be properlytermed a computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes andinstructions on a machine readable medium and computer-readable medium,which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the invention should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intendedto fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment areinterchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from adepicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments inany combination. For example, any of the various components describedherein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged orexcluded from other embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patentapplications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosurecontained in the specification, the specification is intended tosupersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended anddoes not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

The above description discloses several methods and materials of thepresent invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in themethods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methodsand equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of theinvention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that thisinvention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, butthat it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the truescope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for handling distribution itemscomprising: item processing equipment comprising an imaging device, theimaging device configured to image a physical distribution item andinterpret an identifier on the physical distribution item, and togenerate scan information which includes the identifier; an item imageserver configured to store the image of the physical distribution itemand to associate the identifier with the stored image; a supplementalitem content interface in communication with a supplemental item contentserver, the supplemental item content server configured to receivesupplemental item content and to associate the supplemental item contentwith the identifier; and a central hub in communication with the mailimage server and the supplemental item content server, the central hubconfigured to: track delivery data for the physical distribution itemhaving the identifier thereon; provide to the recipient of the physicaldistribution item the delivery notification including the stored imageof the physical distribution item; provide, to the recipient, thesupplemental item content with the delivery notification; and receive,from the recipient, interaction information regarding the recipient'sinteraction with the supplemental item content and store the interactioninformation.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplemental itemcontent is embedded in the provided image of the physical distributionitem.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery notification andthe supplemental item content are provided via a recipient interface. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein the recipient interface is configured toprovide an option to accept or reject the physical distribution item. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the supplemental item content comprises alink provided by a generator of the supplemental item content.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the supplemental item content interface isconfigured to receive the interaction information and to provide theinteraction information to a generator of the supplemental item content.7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customer preferencedatabase, the customer preference database storing preference data for aplurality of customers.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thesupplemental item content interface is configured to receive a requestfor a distribution list of recipients and a list of preferenceparameters.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the customer preferencedatabase is configured to generate a list distribution list of aplurality recipients based on the preference parameters, and to generatea unique identifier for each of the plurality of recipients.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the central processor is configured to trackthe delivery data for the physical distribution item based on the scaninformation from the mail processing equipment, and to provide thesupplemental item content when the identifier in the scan information isassociated with supplemental item content in the supplemental itemcontent server.
 11. A method for handling distribution items comprising:imaging, in mail processing equipment a physical distribution item;interpreting an identifier on the physical distribution item; generatingimage information which includes the identifier; storing the image ofthe physical distribution item; associating the identifier with thestored image; receiving, via a supplemental content interface,supplemental item content; associating the supplemental item contentwith the identifier; tracking delivery data for the physicaldistribution item having the identifier thereon; providing, to arecipient of the physical distribution item, a delivery notificationincluding the stored image of the physical distribution item; providing,to the recipient, the supplemental item content with the deliverynotification; and receiving, from the recipient, interaction informationregarding the recipient's interaction with the supplemental itemcontent.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplemental itemcontent is embedded in the provided image of the physical distributionitem.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the deliverynotification and the supplemental item content comprise providing thedelivery notification and the supplemental item content via a recipientinterface.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing, viathe recipient interface, an option to accept or reject the physicaldistribution item.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplementalcontent comprises a link provided by a mailer
 16. The method of claim11, further comprising providing, via the supplemental item contentserver, the interaction information to a generator of the supplementalcontent.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing, in acustomer preference database, customer preference data for a pluralityof customers.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving,via the supplemental content interface, a request for a distributionlist of recipients and a list of preference parameters.
 19. The methodof claim 18, further comprising generating a distribution list includinga plurality recipients for the physical distribution item based on thereceived preference parameters.
 20. A system for handling distributionitems comprising: means for imaging a physical distribution item; meansfor interpreting an identifier on the physical distribution item; meansgenerating image information which includes the identifier; means forstoring the image of the physical distribution item; means forassociating the identifier with the stored image; means for receivingsupplemental item content; means for associating the supplemental itemcontent with the identifier; means for tracking delivery data for thephysical distribution item having the identifier thereon; means forproviding, to a recipient of the physical distribution item a deliverynotification including the stored image of the physical distributionitem; means for providing, to the recipient, the supplemental itemcontent with the delivery notification; and means for receiving, fromthe recipient, interaction information regarding the recipient'sinteraction with the supplemental item content.